VIDEO

Stephen Cannell on the “Dragnet” Style of Acting

Writer and actor Jack Webb believed realism on the small screen heightened the natural dramatic tension of a show, so when he created the crime drama series “Dragnet” in 1951, he wrote fast-paced, clipped dialogue. But it was difficult for some actors to master, and in this video clip, writer Stephen J. Cannell recalls how Webb coached an actor into delivering the performance he most wanted.

Robbie Moraes

Mr. Cannell (who passed away in 2010) wrote and created a lot of TV shows, but most have not survived the test of time. and are not really that widely available to watch.